Time-varying barcodes for information exchange

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the present invention provide time-varying barcodes for information exchange. Specifically, embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for communicating information between electronic devices via a time-varying barcode image sequence. In a typical embodiment, information to be transmitted is divided into packets. A barcode image is generated from each packet. Each barcode image is displayed sequentially with varying display times based on the complexity of the barcode image. A second electronic device reads and decodes the barcode image sequence until the entire information is received.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part (CIP) application of commonlyowned and co-pending patent application Ser. No. 13/106,514, entitledTIME-VARYING BARCODE IN AN ACTIVE DISPLAY”, filed on May 12, 2011.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

In general, the present invention relates to barcodes. Specifically, thepresent invention relates to time-varying barcodes for informationexchange.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A barcode is a static, optical machine-readable representation (image)of data. The bars are read by variances in reflected light. Barcodereaders are relatively inexpensive and more accurate than key entry.However, issues arise when the barcode image is low resolution or hasbecome obstructed or damaged in some way, causing a failed read ormisread of the barcode information. Barcodes are also susceptible tolimitations of the printer and reader. For example, barcodes printed ondark backgrounds like corrugated cardboard may be difficult to read.Heretofore, several unsuccessful attempts have been made to addressthese shortcomings.

U.S. Patent Application 20110000958 discloses a method and system forcommunicating encoded information through “animated” barcodes wherein asingle bar code area on an electronics' display or television is scannedmultiple times while the bar code area changes from one bar code imageto another.

U.S. Patent Application 20100020970 discloses a system and method forcreating a camera imaging data channel by encoding a sequence of barcodes from a display screen and captured by a camera, then decoded bysoftware on a cell phone or similar device.

U.S. Patent Application 20060054695 discloses a dynamic bar code displayapparatus that includes a storage medium and means for displaying atleast two or more bar codes continuously.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,360,706 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,273,180 disclose ahand-supportable digital imaged-based bar code symbol reading device.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,591,952 discloses a bar code reader that utilizes a CCDimager device to capture the image, and the memory data from the imagerdevice is analyzed to recognize and decode any symbols included withinthe image.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,278,397 discloses a multi-resolution bar code reader inwhich the bar code reader's optics and sensing elements are organized tosend two channels of data derived from a bar code scan.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,073,954 discloses the bar code location and recognitionprocessing system in which a bar code is optically scanned, and adigital video processor converts the scan to binary data and determinesthe location and pattern of the bar code in the scan image.

U.S. Patent Application 20080277475 discloses a digital image captureand processing system that combines video and snapshot image capturesinto a single bar code data capture cycle.

U.S. Patent Application 20070199993 and U.S. Patent Application20070187509 disclose a hand-supportable digital bar code reader that hasmultiple modes of image processing capabilities that include readingboth 1D and 2D bar code symbols.

None of these references, however, teach the use of an error-identifyingor two-way communication feed-back loop in a dual electronic deviceapparatus that uses image display and image capturing devices tocommunicate between the devices via bar codes in at least one direction.Furthermore, none of these references teach the use of bar codes thathave varying sections of bar code image pattern resolution within asingle bar code pattern.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In general, embodiments of the present invention provide time-varyingbarcodes for information exchange. Specifically, embodiments of thepresent invention provide a system and method for communicatinginformation between electronic devices via a time-varying barcode imagesequence. In a typical embodiment, information to be transmitted isdivided into packets. A barcode image is generated from each packet.Each barcode image is displayed sequentially with varying display timesbased on the complexity of the barcode image. A second electronic devicereads and decodes the barcode image sequence until the entireinformation is received.

A first aspect of the present invention provides a data communicationsystem for communicating information between electronic devices via atime-varying barcode, said system comprising: a first electronic device,comprising: a display screen; a display component configured to displaya barcode image sequence on the display screen of the first electronicdevice; a second electronic device, comprising: a reader componentconfigured to read the barcode image sequence; and a barcode decodingcomponent configured to decode the barcode image sequence.

A second aspect of the present invention provides a method forcommunicating information between electronic devices via a time-varyingbarcode, comprising: displaying a barcode image sequence on the displayscreen of a first electronic device; reading the barcode image sequenceby a camera of a second electronic device; and decoding the barcodeimage sequence by the second electronic device.

A third aspect of the present invention provides a method for providinga data communication system for communicating information betweenelectronic devices via a time-varying barcode, said system comprising:providing a first electronic device, comprising: a display screen; adisplay component configured to display a barcode image sequence on thedisplay screen of the first electronic device; providing a secondelectronic device, comprising: a reader component configured to read thebarcode image sequence; and a barcode decoding component configured todecode the barcode image sequence.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of this invention will be more readilyunderstood from the following detailed description of the variousaspects of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 depicts a series of barcode images with increasing complexity.

FIG. 2A depicts intended data divided into packets according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2B depicts error correcting code information according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 depicts time-varying barcodes that are sequentially displayedaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 depicts a process flow diagram according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

The drawings are not necessarily to scale. The drawings are merelyschematic representations, not intended to portray specific parametersof the invention. The drawings are intended to depict only typicalembodiments of the invention, and therefore should not be considered aslimiting the scope of the invention. In the drawings, like numberingrepresents like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Illustrative embodiments will now be described more fully herein withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodimentsare shown. This disclosure may, however, be embodied in many differentforms and should not be construed as limited to the exemplaryembodiments set forth herein. Rather, these exemplary embodiments areprovided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and willfully convey the scope of this disclosure to those skilled in the art.In the description, details of well-known features and techniques may beomitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the presented embodiments.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of this disclosure.As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. Furthermore, the use of the terms “a”, “an”, etc., do notdenote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of atleast one of the referenced items. It will be further understood thatthe terms “comprises” and/or “comprising”, or rectify “includes” and/or“including”, when used in this specification, specify the presence ofstated features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/orcomponents, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or moreother features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups thereof.

The barcode can be traced back to 1948, but it did not have a largeimpact until the 1970's when it became a tool in alleviating manualinventories. Grocery store owners began to see it as a way to save timeand money in tracking product levels within the store. Throughout the1970's, barcode scanning systems became more affordable and practicalwith the continued price reduction and miniaturization of barcodereaders.

As indicated above, embodiments of the present invention providetime-varying barcodes for information exchange. Specifically,embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method forcommunicating information between electronic devices via a time-varyingbarcode image sequence. In a typical embodiment, information to betransmitted is divided into packets. An barcode image is generated fromeach packet. Each barcode image is displayed sequentially with varyingdisplay times based on the complexity of the barcode image. A secondelectronic device reads and decodes the barcode image sequence until theentire information is received.

FIG. 1 depicts a series of barcode images with increasing complexity.Barcode readers usually need a fairly good picture of the symbol todecode barcodes. Barcodes can store a large amount of data, but grow insize and complexity relative to the amount of data stored. Barcode image100A is a simple barcode image. Barcode images 100B-D are increasinglymore complex than the previous barcode image. The bigger and morecomplex the barcode, the better the picture required to decode it. Thecomplexity and resolution of a barcode image often make it difficult toread the barcode image accurately.

FIG. 2A depicts intended data divided into packets according to anembodiment of the present invention. The data to becommunicated/transmitted is divided into packets. The size of eachpacket is dependent upon several factors including, but not limited to,display screen resolution, barcode image size, and data communicationchannel quality (i.e., the quality of the display screen and camera).

FIG. 2B depicts error correcting code information according to anembodiment of the present invention. Each packet has redundancy to theprevious and next packet (when applicable). This means that each packetwill include information from the previous and next packet (whenapplicable). If a packet is lost, then the missing information may bereconstructed at the receiver from the error correcting code datacontained in the other packet(s), provided that the average number ofconsecutively lost packets is small.

Each data packet is coded as a barcode image with additionalerror-correcting code. For example, a barcode image is displayed on adisplay screen. A reader reads the barcode image. Any errors that areintroduced are detected and corrected based on the remaining codes.

FIG. 3 depicts time-varying codes that are sequentially displayedaccording to an embodiment of the present invention. The images withinthe barcode sequence do not have to have the same specifications (e.g.,resolution, size, etc.). Each image in the sequence may have its own setof characteristics. For example, information to be communicated may bedivided into three packets. Since each packet has less data, the imagesgenerated from the packets will be less complex (and thus, easier toread) than an image generated from the whole message. An image generatedfrom the whole message would be complex and require a higher resolution.Since each packet contains only part of the whole information, theimages generated from each packet may be readable by a lower resolutionreader. Moreover, image code display periods do not have to be constant.More time may be given to more complex codes and less time for simplercodes.

FIG. 4 depicts a process flow diagram according to an embodiment of thepresent invention. Whole information is divided by a group of packets(step S1). Each packet is encoded into a barcode image (step S2). Eachpacket has redundancy to the previous and next packet. Each data packetis coded as an image with additional error-correcting code. Each barcodeimage is displayed sequentially with varying display times (step S3).Simple barcode images may be displayed in a short period of time, whilemore complex images may be displayed for longer periods of time. Thereader periodically samples the display and completes scanning when thewhole sequence is read and decoded (step S4).

The foregoing description of various aspects of the invention has beenpresented for purposes of illustration and description. It is notintended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise formdisclosed and, obviously, many modifications and variations arepossible. Such modifications and variations that may be apparent to aperson skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scopeof the invention as defined by the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A data communication device for communicatinginformation via an image, said device comprising: a display componentconfigured to display an image sequence or authentication graphic on adisplay screen of the device; a reader component configured to read animage sequence or authentication graphic; a decoding componentconfigured to decode an image sequence; and a receiving componentconfigured to receive an authentication graphic; wherein at least onemember of the image sequence differs from the other members with respectto a display specification, and wherein the display specificationcomprises the amount of time each image in the sequence is displayed,based upon the complexity of the image.
 2. The data communication deviceof claim 1, further comprising a second device comprising components toat least one of: display an image sequence on a display screen of thesecond device and recognize a return authentication graphic by a camera;and read an image sequence by a camera of the second device and displayan authentication graphic on a display screen.
 3. The data communicationdevice of claim 2, wherein the second device further comprises: adisplay component configured to display an image sequence orauthentication graphic on a display screen of the second device; areader component configured to read an image sequence or authenticationgraphic; a decoding component configured to decode an image sequence;and a receiving component configured to receive an authenticationgraphic.
 4. The data communication device of claim 1, wherein the imagesequence and authentication graphic each comprises at least one of: abarcode, a quick response (QR) code, and a graphical image.
 5. The datacommunication device of claim 1, wherein the display component furthercomprises an image generating component configured to generate the imagesequence from the information, wherein the information is divided into agroup of packets, each packet being encoded as an image, and each packetincluding redundancy information with respect to a different packet orerror correction data information with respect to a different packet. 6.The data communication device of claim 1, wherein the reader componentis further configured to sample a display to determine when the entireimage sequence is received or the authentication graphic is displayed.7. A method for communicating information via a time-varying image,comprising: displaying an image sequence on a display screen; readingthe image sequence by a camera of an electronic device; decoding theimage sequence; displaying an authentication graphic on the displayscreen of the electronic device; and receiving the authenticationgraphic by a camera; wherein at least one member of the image sequencediffers from the other members with respect to a display specification.8. The method of claim 7, further comprising at least one of: displayingan image sequence on a display screen of a second device and recognizinga return authentication graphic by a camera of the second device; andreading an image sequence by a camera of the second device anddisplaying an authentication graphic on a display screen of the seconddevice.
 9. The method of claim 7, wherein the image sequence andauthentication graphic each comprises at least one of: a barcode, aquick response (QR) code, and a graphical image.
 10. The method of claim7, wherein the display specification is the amount of time each image inthe sequence is displayed, based upon the complexity of the image. 11.The method of claim 7, wherein the displaying the image furthercomprises generating the image sequence from the information, whereinthe information is divided into a group of packets, each packet beingencoded as an image, and each packet including redundancy informationwith respect to a different packet or error correction data informationwith respect to a different packet.
 12. The method of claim 7, furthercomprising sampling the display screen to determine when the entireimage sequence has been received or the authentication graphic isdisplayed.
 13. A method for providing a data communication device forcommunicating information via a time-varying image, comprising:providing an electronic device, comprising: a display componentconfigured to display an image sequence or authentication graphic on adisplay screen of the electronic device; a reader component configuredto read an image sequence or authentication graphic; a decodingcomponent configured to decode an image sequence; and a receivingcomponent configured to receive an authentication graphic; wherein atleast one member of the image sequence differs from the other memberswith respect to a display specification, and wherein the displayspecification comprises the amount of time each image in the sequence isdisplayed, based upon the complexity of the image.
 14. The method ofclaim 13, further comprising providing a second electronic device,comprising components to at least one of: display an image sequence on adisplay screen of the second device and recognize a returnauthentication graphic by a camera; and read an image sequence by acamera of the second device and display an authentication graphic on adisplay screen.
 15. The method of claim 14, where the second devicefurther comprises: a display component configured to display an imagesequence or authentication graphic on a display screen of the seconddevice; a reader component configured to read an image sequence orauthentication graphic; a decoding component configured to decode animage sequence; and a receiving component configured to receive anauthentication graphic.
 16. The method of claim 13, wherein the imagesequence and authentication graphic each comprises at least one of: abarcode, a quick response (QR) code, and a graphical image.
 17. Themethod of claim 13, wherein the display component further comprises animage generating component configured to generate the image sequencefrom the information, wherein the information is divided into a group ofpackets, each packet being encoded as an image, and each packetincluding redundancy information with respect to a different packet orerror correction data information with respect to a different packet.18. The method of claim 13, wherein the reader component is furtherconfigured to sample a display to determine when the entire imagesequence is received or the authentication graphic is displayed.